Lionel Messi’s dream of clinching an MLS Cup title ended abruptly on Saturday, with Inter Miami falling 3-2 to Atlanta United in a shocking first-round playoff elimination. Despite finishing the regular season with a record points total and capturing the Supporters’ Shield, the MLS Cup favorites were eliminated in the best-of-three series after back-to-back losses.
Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Matias Rojas converted a rebound after Messi’s shot was saved by Brad Guzan. However, Atlanta equalized almost immediately as Jamal Thiare capitalized on a deflected pass from Dax McCarty. Thiare struck again just minutes later, assisted by Aleksei Miranchuk, putting Atlanta ahead 2-1.
While Diego Gomez had a potential equalizer disallowed for offside, Messi managed to level the score in the 65th minute with a powerful header from a Marcelo Weigandt cross. Miami continued to press for a game-winner but was undone in the closing stages when Bartosz Slisz nodded home a Pedro Amador cross, sealing the 3-2 win for Atlanta.
Atlanta now advances to the Eastern Conference semifinals to face Orlando City, while the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC will square off in the other semifinal matchup.
